One of the first things we notice about people when we first meet them is their smile and their teeth. If a tooth is missing in a smile it is instantly obvious and if you have suffered a missing tooth you are almost certainly very aware of this fact. This can be embarrassing and lead to all manner of efforts to force smiles without opening your mouth. Having a defect such as a missing tooth can be bad for your self-confidence and could be holding you back in other areas of your life and even affecting your relationships.

It may also be affecting the health of your other teeth. Missing teeth cause unwanted movement of the remaining teeth, which leads to misalignment and sometimes painful bite complaints such as TMJ. Therefore, Bristol dentists always recommend replacing a missing tooth or teeth as soon as possible.

One of the most popular and permanent ways of doing this is with a dental implant. Implanted directly into the jawbone, a dental implant is a small titanium screw that acts as a base for an artificial crown. Because it replaces the root of the tooth as well as the visible part, it has many advantages over other dental replacements. For example, it will not prohibit the eating of certain foods which dental bridges and partial dentures might.

Dental implants are almost always permanent and will not need replacing after a number of years. This means that once you have had the operation you can get on with your life and never have to worry about it again. Ask your dentist for more information about the benefits of dental implants.